ABSTRACT
This chapter represents the development of such a monitoring system. The system combines several physiological and electroneurophysiological parameters into a neurophysiological state vector. Ary Goldberger demonstrated that a loss of heart rate variability over time corresponds with a state of pathology and in general that a loss of complexity of the dynamics of the associated physiological parameters typifies several diverse disease states. In this work, the dynamics of a time-varying neurophysiological state vector representing the condition of stroke patients in the neurointensive care unit are examined. The chapter provides a prototype for a continuous monitor of neurophysiological function for use at the bedside in the intensive care unit. The emphasis of the study is on continual electrophysiological monitoring, since this is not done routinely in the intensive care unit. Automatic analysis facilitates interpretation of electrophysiological data by clinicians unskilled in neurophysiology. The dynamics of the electroencephalogram display the property that they lose complexity under unhealthy conditions.
